About SimLEARN
The Simulation Learning, Evaluation, Assessment, and Research Network (SimLEARN) provides
an ever-growing body of curricula and tools that improve overall Veteran well-being through simulation-based
innovation and technologies provided in a safe learning environment.
Mission
Set the standard for innovative health care education solutions through simulation-based innovation and technologies provided in a safe learning environment.
Vision
Be the indispensable asset to the enterprise and its partners that provides world-class services to all Veterans through innovation and simulation education.
SimLEARN Virtual Academy (SVA)
SVA leverages innovation and
technology to
advance simulation education through synchronous and asynchronous modalities. SVA decreases training
costs, minimize logistic requirements, and reduces the time clinical staff are away from Veteran care
through the reduction of travel to training locations.
Certified Simulation Centers
SimLEARN staff recently awarded simulation certifications. These certifications will be awarded to qualified facilities in June and December of each year. Facility certifications last for two years and are renewable. They are a distinctive
accomplishment. There are three tiers of certification: basic, intermediate, and advanced. Below
is a link
to the full list of certified facilities. A facility can request certification after one year of operation
while meeting the basic level criteria. A non-binding email of intent and certification application is
required. Please contact the team by sending an email to:
VHASimLEARNFacilitySimulationCertification@va.gov
VHA National SimVET Center
The VHA National SimVET Center was
built on the campus of the new Orlando VA Medical Center, which is part of the exciting new "Medical City"
campus at Lake Nona.
The Lake Nona development site includes other large clinical, education, and research facilities.
A variety of federal simulation research offices are in close proximity at the University of Central
Florida campus. This strategic placement facilitates enhanced opportunities for research in new simulation
technologies and methods.
The VHA National SimVET Center(NSC) serves as the operational hub for coordination of all
national VHA clinical simulation activities.
Activities of the VHA SimLEARN National SimVET Center
- Development and delivery of national simulation-based training curricula
- Creation of national policies, procedures, and standards for conduct of simulation-based training across a network of VA medical facilities
- Coordination and support of Veterans Integrated Service Network medical center simulation-based training programs and feedback on local curricula
- Train-the-trainer programs*
- Train-the-provider programs*
- Development of serious games, virtual environments, and virtual patients to support health care education and training
- Simulation technology innovation, evaluation and development
- Simulation technology technical support
- Human factors evaluation and systems testing
- Advanced surgical training using virtual reality simulators
- Interprofessional Advanced Fellowships in Clinical Simulation
- Management of VHA’s Resuscitation Education Initiative, or REdI, a national simulation-based training program in coordination with the American Heart Association for internal training of Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications
- National acquisition of simulation equipment
- Educational research
- Tele-Simulation training
★ The center’s train-the-trainer and train-the provider approach uses the most suitable modalities of simulation to include mannequin-based simulation, standardized patients, and hands-on task trainers.